Man United v Man City LIVE: Erling Haaland’s controversial winner to be reviewed as Pro Ref admit ‘error of judgement’ | OneFootball

Manchester City’s controversial derby winner against Manchester United on Sunday should not have stood, refereeing body Pro Ref has confirmed.

Erling Haaland’s goal on the hour-mark earned the 10-man visitors a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford after Phil Foden was sent off early in the first half of the Premier League clash.

Enzo Fernandez, however, was in an offside position and appeared to interfere with play by making an lunge to latch onto the ball.

Officials said the fact Fernandez did not get a touch on the ball meant the goal was allowed to stand, something which challenging defender Lisandro Martinez branded an “injustice”.

Mere hours after the conclusion of the game, though, Pro Ref admitted an “error of judgement” in awarding the goal.

“On this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review,” a statement said.

“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”

Why Phil Foden’s Man City season could be doomed already

Foden’s sending off at Old Trafford is likely to mean he misses up to a month of playing time with a three-game suspension and the international break on the horizon.

Why Phil Foden’s Man City season could be doomed already

Foden’s sending off at Old Trafford is likely to mean he misses up to a month of playing time with a three-game suspension and the international break on the horizon

Richard Jolly14 September 2026 10:00

Martinez calls VAR decision an 'injustice'

Lisandro Martinez was involved in the incident that led to Erling Haaland’s goal as he was between the forward and Enzo Fernandez during the cross from Josko Gvardiol.

Martinez was closing down Fernandez, who was offside, and that left Haaland open to score at the back post.

"I think it was offside," said Martinez. "And what I can't understand is the rules. I want to be calm now, I want to control myself.

"It's so hard because you lose a derby, you lose three points at home, and every season they're [referees] coming to our club, they explain for one hour the rules, and they look so confident with that, and then after [there are] five or six people doing these kind of mistakes in the Premier League - it's unacceptable.

"It's the best league in the world, you have the best teams in the world, the best players in the world, and now we have to go home with this injustice."

(Reuters)

Mike Jones14 September 2026 09:30

Review to take place over VAR incident

It will be of no consolation to Manchester United that a review of the decision to award Haaland’s winner will now take place within Pro Ref.

The refereeing body admitted an ‘error of judgement’ and confirmed that a review will be taking place to ascertain how the VAR came to the decision to award the goal.

Yet for Michael Carrick’s men it is three points lost and another defeat on the cards in a very average start to the new season.

(Getty)

Mike Jones14 September 2026 09:00

Pro Ref admits 'error of judgement' to award Haaland's goal

We pick up today with the news that the Premier League’s refereeing body Pro Ref have released a statement admitting there was an ‘error of judgement’ in the decision to award Erling Haaland’s winning goal at Old Trafford.

City’s 1-0 victory over their rivals was a superb result having gone down to 10-men and it was a VAR intervention that overturned an on-field offside call to award Haaland his goal.

The semi-automated offside technology showed the forward was onside having been behind the outstretched foot of Patrick Dorgu but the VAR did not take into account the impact of Enzo Fernandez (who was offside) on defender Lisandro Martinez.

In a statement yesterday, Pro Ref said: "It was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective.

"However, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.

"Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place."

Mike Jones14 September 2026 08:30

Why Michael Carrick can’t just blame VAR for Man Utd’s dismal derby failure

Manchester City have had some famous victories at Old Trafford in the last 15 years and if this scoreline was the least spectacular, the circumstances mean it may become among the most celebrated.

A man down for more than 70 minutes, stoppage time included, in their first derby since Pep Guardiola’s departure, shorn of a sent-off specialist in scoring against Manchester United, they instead conjured a victory built on brilliant defending, fashioned by big-money signings and sealed, with a certain inevitability, by Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian adopted his trademark meditative pose after his winner was contentiously awarded. He certainly gave United much to think about. This was a thoroughly chastening occasion for them. Gifted an advantage by Phil Foden, with a red card of senseless stupidity, they squandered it with their inability to break City down.

Richard Jolly at Old Trafford14 September 2026 08:00

The hidden issue behind Manchester United’s poor start to the season

As the fans disappeared from Old Trafford, so did plenty of optimism for the upcoming season. With just four points from the opening four games, it’s beginning to look like the same old story once again for Manchester United.

The nature of a derby game means that sometimes a team can’t learn many lessons, whatever the result. Unfortunately for Michael Carrick, that was not the case today as his side delivered a dismal performance to lose 1-0 to 10-man Manchester City.

United were on the end of a controversial VAR decision as Erling Haaland gave his side a memorable win at Old Trafford, but while the refereeing will dominate the headlines in the immediate aftermath, it was a poor outing from the hosts.

Much has been made of the defensive frailties in Michael Carrick’s side, and that was evident again as Haaland snuck in to steer his side into the lead on the hour mark. It was a poor goal to concede, but it threatens to mask the other glaring issue in this United side – an incoherent and under-performing attack.

Chris Wilson at Old Trafford14 September 2026 07:00

Why was Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United allowed to stand?

The Premier League Match Centre has given an explanation on why Erling Haaland’s winner was allowed to stand.

A statement read: “VAR checked the referee’s call of no goal for offside – and determined that Haaland was in an onside position and recommended that the goal was awarded.

“The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn’t play the ball.”

Jamie Braidwood brings you more:

Why was Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United allowed to stand?

Haaland was ruled to be onside from Josko Gvardiol’s cross, despite the angle of the TV replays suggesting otherwise, while Enzo Fernandez was not found to be interfering with play

Will Castle14 September 2026 06:00

Man Utd boss Michael Carrick blasts ‘staggering’ decision to allow Erling Haaland’s goal to stand

Michael Carrick complained about a “staggering” explanation of why Erling Haaland’s winner in the Manchester derby was allowed by VAR as he said it was worrying for football.

Carrick said: “If that's the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that's really worrying for me. It's a staggering explanation.

“I just don't get it. I really don't get it. I can't understand how they're trying to help referees and putting so many layers behind them with so many people, so many bodies, so many screens, and so many whatever offices they are to try and come up with the right decisions.

“If that's how the rules are interpreted, that you're not interfering with play because you've thrown yourself at the ball six yards from goal and pretty much nearly touched it, which then Leif has to react from. On top of that, the line was a bit dubious where they drew the line to start with. It's worrying if that's really how the game's seen by those who are officiating it.”

Will Castle14 September 2026 05:00

Wayne Rooney: United are 'all a bit toothless'

Speaking to BBC Sport, Wayne Rooney said: “I thought Manchester United were the better team and dominated City up until half-time, but they gave away too many free-kicks and allowed the game to be slowed down which suited City perfectly. Once City got their goal they managed the game brilliantly and United just couldn’t find enough quality, especially in the final third.

“Haaland’s goal should not have stood, it was offside, but as soon as City went ahead they used all their nous and game management to frustrate United. They restricted them to pretty much one chance and didn’t look in any danger at all.

“United are already eight points behind City and Michael Carrick will be disappointed how they’ve started no doubt about that. There have been some good moments but one win from four league matches tells its own story.

“When the transfer window closed I felt United still needed better players, to not only to provide competition for places and cover across all competitions, but to come on in games and provide that extra quality and change games. You were just waiting for someone to be brought on and make an impact today, but you looked at the bench and there weren’t many attacking threats to call on. It was all a bit toothless.”